John Ryan is a former junior club player in Leicestershire. Having finally retired from playing, he decided he couldn’t leave the game and took up refereeing.
Johns 12 tips for players and coaches are..
12 Tips:
Players:
- Get clued up on the laws and their interpretation. There's only 22 and they're not too difficult to understand with a little effort.
- Listen to the referee. Most would rather "warn" than sanction for an offence, as this keeps the game flowing and actually allows some rugby to be played
- Pay attention to the referee's "hot spots" and play accordingly. Some referees may be more lenient than others for some offences, whereas others will offer out the strongest sanctions for what may be seen as minor offences (hands in the ruck, side entry, "lazy" retiring etc.).
- Don't be afraid to request clarification during a break in play. Obviously this should go via the Captain or Pack Leader, but sometimes an "Excuse me Sir, my Captain / Pack Leader is [otherwise engaged] can you please clarify...insert question here" is acceptable, especially if the game has stopped and the referee isn't involved in anything important.
- Always retire when the whistle blows for an offence, even if it's not against you. Referees take note of this and appreciate the effort.
- If you are sanctioned (penalty / yellow card etc.) then go to the referee and accept the consequences. Don't just turn your back or mumble your displeasure.
- If the referee misses something, just accept it. Most levels don't have a TMO or qualified touch judges, so the referee can only deal with what they see. Don't run after the referee and shout your displeasure or views on a decision, we leave that to the round ball followers.
Coaches:
- Go through the laws with your players and ensure they understand them.
- In your warm up or training sessions get some of the players to be the referee and see how difficult it can be to pick up on some of the darker arts.
- Ensure you set an example and demonstrate how to be respectful to the referee
- If there is a problem, such as an unseen event on the pitch, wait until a suitable moment after the game to discuss this. It's probably best after the game, as most referees are too involved during the 80 minutes
All:
- Have fun! Rugby is a great game but getting too stressed about your own or your team's performance will detract from this.
I hope this helps.
John
| Former Leicestershire Player → |
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